Muscle-building apparatus for press-ups

ABSTRACT

Muscle-building apparatus for press-ups includes a bearing plate having a cushion. A frame includes first and second vertical posts. A first arm has a handle end and a journal end. A first handle is arranged on the handle end of the first arm. A second arm has a handle end and a journal end. A second handle is arranged on the handle end of the second arm. The first arm is movably mounted to the first vertical post between the handle end and the journal end. The second arm is movably mounted to the second vertical post between the handle end and the journal end. A first leg connects the journal end of the first arm to the bearing plate. The first leg is movably mounted to each of the first arm and the bearing plate. A second leg connects the journal end of the second arm to the bearing plate. The second leg is movably mounted to each of the second arm and the bearing plate. Movement of the first and second arms causes movement of the bearing plate.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a National Stage Application of InternationalApplication No. PCT/FR00/02445, filed Sep. 6, 2000. Further, the presentapplication claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of French PatentApplication No. 99/11261 filed on Sep. 9, 1999.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a muscle-building apparatus forpress-ups.

2. Discussion of Background Information

One knows how difficult it is to do press-ups due to inadequatepositioning and lack of strength, etc.

In muscle building, the problem to solve, when doing press-ups, consistsof performing the exercise more easily, and in a correct position,without much exertion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, which remedies this drawback, relates to abody-building apparatus for performing the exercise referred to aspress-ups, which is made up of a frame resting on the floor, having twovertical posts supporting two journaled movable arms, with handles fixedat the end of the arms, then linked via two movable legs connected to abearing plate supporting a cushion.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the arms journaledon the vertical posts of the frame are pushed downward by the handles,creating a lever for the plate by raising and lowering it, whileperforming the exercise referred to as press-ups.

The invention also provides for a muscle-building apparatus forpress-ups, wherein the apparatus comprises a bearing plate that includesa cushion. A frame comprises first and second vertical posts. A firstarm comprises a handle end and a journal end. A first handle is arrangedon the handle end of the first armn. A second arm comprises a handle endand a journal end. A second handle is arranged on the handle end of thesecond arm. The first arm is movably mounted to the first vertical postbetween the handle end and the journal end. The second arm is movablymounted to the second vertical post between the handle end and thejournal end. A first leg connects the journal end of the first arm tothe bearing plate. The first leg is movably mounted to each of the firstarm and the bearing plate. A second leg connects the journal end of thesecond arm to the bearing plate. The second leg is movably mounted toeach of the second arm and the bearing plate. Movement of the first andsecond arms causes movement of the bearing plate.

The muscle-building apparatus may further comprise a first connectingjournal movably coupling the first arm to the first vertical post, asecond connecting journal movably coupling the second arm to the secondvertical post, two third connecting journals movably coupling the firstleg to each of the first arm and the bearing plate, and two fourthconnecting journals movably coupling the second leg to each of thesecond arm and the bearing plate. The bearing plate may move upwardlywhen the first and second arms are moved downwardly, and may movedownwardly when the first and second arms are moved upwardly. The firstand second handles may be movable to a position wherein they areperpendicular to an axis running through a planar base portion of theframe and the bearing plate, whereby the first and second handles enablea perfect position of a user's body so as to provide good muscularamplitude.

The muscle-building apparatus may further comprise a guide mechanismwhich opposes tilting of the bearing plate. The guide mechanism may becoupled to each of the frame and the bearing plate. The guide mechanismmay comprise blades which are linked by articulations and which cancollapse on one another during a downward movement of the bearing plate.The guide mechanism may oppose left or right side tilting of the bearingplate. The bearing plate may support the cushion. The first and secondhandles mat each comprise an upper handle member and at least one sidehandle member, the upper handle members being oriented parallel to thefirst and second arms and the at least one side handle members beingoriented perpendicular to the first and second arms. The first andsecond handles may each comprise an upper handle member and side handlemembers, the upper handle members being oriented parallel to the firstand second arms and the side handle members being oriented perpendicularto the first and second arms.

The invention also provides for a muscle-building apparatus forpress-ups, wherein the apparatus comprises a support comprising acushion. A frame comprises first and second vertical posts. A first armcomprises a handle end and a journal end. A first handle is arranged onthe handle end of the first arm. A second arm comprises a handle end anda journal end. A second handle is arranged on the handle end of thesecond arm. The first arm is pivotally mounted to the first verticalpost between the handle end and the journal end. The second arm ispivotally mounted to the second vertical post between the handle end andthe journal end. A first leg comprises ends which are movably connectedto each of the support and the journal end of the first arm. A secondleg comprises ends which are movably connected to each of the supportand the journal end of the second arm. Pivoting movement of the firstand second arms causes vertical movement of the support.

The muscle-building apparatus may further comprise a first connectingjournal movably coupling the first arm to the first vertical post, asecond connecting journal movably coupling the second arm to the secondvertical post, two third connecting journals movably coupling the firstleg to each of the first arm and the support, and two fourth connectingjournals movably coupling the second leg to each of the second arm andthe support. The support may move upwardly when the first and secondarms are pivoted downwardly, and wherein the support moves downwardlywhen the first and second arms are pivoted upwardly. The first andsecond handles may be movable to a position wherein they areperpendicular to an axis running through a planar base portion of theframe and the support, whereby the first and second handles enable aperfect position of a user's body so as to provide good muscularamplitude.

The muscle-building apparatus may further comprise a guide mechanismwhich opposes tilting of the support. The guide mechanism may be coupledto each of the frame and the support. The guide mechanism may compriseblades which are linked by articulations and which can collapse on oneanother during a downward movement of the support. The guide mechanismmay oppose left or right side tilting of the support. The support maysupport the cushion. The first and second handles may each comprise anupper handle member and at least one side handle member, the upperhandle members being oriented parallel to the first and second arms andthe at least one side handle members being oriented perpendicular to thefirst and second arms. The first and second handles may each comprise anupper handle member and side handle members, the upper handle membersbeing oriented parallel to the first and second arms and the side handlemembers being oriented perpendicular to the first and second arms.

The invention also provides for a muscle-building apparatus forpress-ups, wherein the apparatus comprises a support plate. A framecomprises a base and first and second vertical posts. A first armcomprises a handle end and a journal end. A first handle is arranged onthe handle end of the first arm. A second arm comprises a handle end anda journal end. A second handle is arranged on the handle end of thesecond arm. The first arm is movably mounted to the first vertical postbetween the handle end and the journal end. The second arm is movablymounted to the second vertical post between the handle end and thejournal end. A first leg connects the journal end of the first arm tothe support plate. The first leg is movably mounted to each of the firstarm and the support plate. A second leg connects the journal end of thesecond arm to the support plate. The second leg is movably mounted toeach of the second arm and the support plate. A guide mechanism opposestilting of the support plate. The first and second arms are arranged onopposite sides of the support plate. Movement of the first and secondarms relative to the first and second posts causes movement of thesupport plate relative to the frame.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other characteristics will become more apparent from the descriptionthat follows, with reference to the annexed drawings, provided forguidance only, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective schematic view showing the apparatus of theinvention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view, along the arrow B of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view, along the arrow A of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawing and according to one embodiment, one sees thatthe apparatus is made of a frame 4 resting on the floor, having twovertical posts 3 supporting two joumaled 9 movable arms 2, with handles6 and 7 fixed in the ends on the arms, then linked, via the two movablelegs 1 and by their journals 8 and 10, to a bearing plate 5 supporting acushion.

According to the invention, the two arms 2 joumaled 9 on the verticalposts of the frame 4 are pushed downward by the handles 6 and 7, withthe hands, creating a lever for the plate 5 by raising and lowering it,while performing the exercise referred to as press-ups.

It must be noted that the handles 6 and 7 fixed in the end of themovable arms 2, positioned perpendicular and parallel to the apparatus,enable a perfect position of the body by providing it with a goodmuscular amplitude.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the plate 5comprises a guide opposing its left or right tilting, fixed on the frame4, which is made up of blades 11 linked by their journal 12, collapsingon one another, along the downward movement of the plate.

The invention also provides for a muscle-building apparatus forpress-ups, wherein the apparatus comprises a bearing plate 5 thatincludes a cushion. A frame 4 comprises first and second vertical posts3. A first arm 2 comprises a handle end and a journal end. A firsthandle 6/7 is arranged on the handle end of the first arm 2. A secondarm 2 comprises a handle end and a journal end. A second handle 6/7 isarranged on the handle end of the second arm 2. The first arm 2 ismovably mounted to the first vertical post 3 between the handle end andthe journal end. The second arm 2 is movably mounted to the secondvertical post 3 between the handle end and the journal end. A first leg1 connects the journal end of the first arm 2 to the bearing plate 5.The first leg 1 is movably mounted to each of the first arm 2 and thebearing plate 5. A second leg 1 connects the journal end of the secondarm 2 to the bearing plate 5. The second leg 1 is movably mounted toeach of the second arm 2 and the bearing plate 5. Movement of the firstand second arms causes movement of the bearing plate.

The muscle-building apparatus further includes a first connectingjournal 9 that movably couples the first arm 2 to the first verticalpost 3, a second connecting journal 9 movably couples the second arm 2to the second vertical post 3, two third connecting journals 8, 10movably couple the first leg 1 to each of the first arm 2 and thebearing plate 5, and two fourth connecting journals 8, 10 movably couplethe second leg 1 to each of the second arm 2 and the bearing plate 5.The bearing plate 5 may move upwardly when the first and second arms aremoved downwardly, and may move downwardly when the first and second armsare moved upwardly. The first and second handles 6/7 may be movable to aposition wherein they are perpendicular to an axis running through aplanar base portion of the frame and the bearing plate, whereby thefirst and second handles 6/7 enable a perfect position of a user's bodyso as to provide good muscular amplitude.

The muscle-building apparatus also includes a guide mechanism 11/12which opposes tilting of the bearing plate 5. The guide mechanism 11/12is coupled to each of the frame 4 and the bearing plate 5. The guidemechanism comprises blades 11 which are linked by articulations 12 andwhich can collapse on one another during a downward movement of thebearing plate 5. The guide mechanism opposes left or right side tiltingof the bearing plate 5. The bearing plate 5 supports the cushion. Thefirst and second handles 6/7 each comprise an upper handle member 7 andat least one side handle member 6, the upper handle members 7 areoriented parallel to the first and second arms 2 and the at least oneside handle members 6 are oriented perpendicular to the first and secondarms 2. The first and second handles 6/7 may each comprise an upperhandle member 7 and side handle members 5, the upper handle members 7being oriented parallel to the first and second arms 2 and the sidehandle members 6 being oriented perpendicular to the first and secondarms 2.

What is claimed is:
 1. A muscle-building apparatus for press-ups, theapparatus comprising: a bearing plate comprising a cushion; a framecomprising first and second vertical posts; a first arm comprising ahandle end and a journal end; a first handle arranged on the handle endof the first armn; a second arm comprising a handle end and a journalend; a second handle arranged on the handle end of the second arm; thefirst arm being movably mounted to the first vertical post between thehandle end and the journal end; the second arm being movably mounted tothe second vertical post between the handle end and the journal end; afirst leg connecting the journal end of the first arm to the bearingplate; the first leg being movably mounted to each of the first arm andthe bearing plate; a second leg connecting the journal end of the secondarm to the bearing plate; and the second leg being movably mounted toeach of the second arm and the bearing plate, wherein movement of thefirst and second arms causes movement of the bearing plate.
 2. Themuscle-building apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a firstconnecting journal movably coupling the first arm to the first verticalpost; a second connecting journal movably coupling the second arm to thesecond vertical post; two third connecting journals movably coupling thefirst leg to each of the first arm and the bearing plate; and two fourthconnecting journals movably coupling the second leg to each of thesecond arm and the bearing plate.
 3. The muscle-building apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the bearing plate moves upwardly when the first andsecond arms are moved downwardly, and wherein the bearing plate movesdownwardly when the first and second arms are moved upwardly.
 4. Themuscle-building apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and secondhandles are movable to a position wherein they are perpendicular to anaxis running through a planar base portion of the frame and the bearingplate, whereby the first and second handles enable a perfect position ofa user's body so as to provide good muscular amplitude.
 5. Themuscle-building apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a guidemechanism which opposes tilting of the bearing plate.
 6. Themuscle-building apparatus of claim 5, wherein the guide mechanism iscoupled to each of the frame and the bearing plate.
 7. Themuscle-building apparatus of claim 6, wherein the guide mechanismcomprises blades which are linked by articulations and which cancollapse on one another during a downward movement of the bearing plate.8. The muscle-building apparatus of claim 5, wherein the guide mechanismopposes left or right side tilting of the bearing plate.
 9. Themuscle-building apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bearing plate supportsthe cushion.
 10. The muscle-building apparatus of claim 1, wherein thefirst and second handles each comprise an upper handle member and atleast one side handle member, the upper handle members being orientedparallel to the first and second arms and the at least one side handlemembers being oriented perpendicular to the first and second arms. 11.The muscle-building apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and secondhandles each comprise an upper handle member and side handle members,the upper handle members being oriented parallel to the first and secondarms and the side handle members being oriented perpendicular to thefirst and second arms.
 12. A muscle-building apparatus for press-ups,the apparatus comprising: a support comprising a cushion; a framecomprising first and second vertical posts; a first arm comprising ahandle end and a journal end; a first handle arranged on the handle endof the first arm; a second arm comprising a handle end and a journalend; a second handle arranged on the handle end of the second arm; thefirst arm being pivotally mounted to the first vertical post between thehandle end and the journal end; the second arm being pivotally mountedto the second vertical post between the handle end and the journal end;a first leg comprising ends which are movably connected to each of thesupport and the journal end of the first arm; a second leg comprisingends which are movably connected to each of the support and the journalend of the second arm, wherein pivoting movement of the first and secondarms causes vertical movement of the support.
 13. The muscle-buildingapparatus of claim 12, further comprising: a first connecting journalmovably coupling the first arm to the first vertical post; a secondconnecting journal movably coupling the second arm to the secondvertical post; two third connecting journals movably coupling the firstleg to each of the first arm and the support; and two fourth connectingjournals movably coupling the second leg to each of the second arm andthe support.
 14. The muscle-building apparatus of claim 12, wherein thesupport moves upwardly when the first and second arms are pivoteddownwardly, and wherein the support moves downwardly when the first andsecond arms are pivoted upwardly.
 15. The muscle-building apparatus ofclaim 12, wherein the first and second handles are movable to a positionwherein they are perpendicular to an axis running through a planar baseportion of the frame and the support, whereby the first and secondhandles enable a perfect position of a user's body so as to provide goodmuscular amplitude.
 16. The muscle-building apparatus of claim 12,further comprising a guide mechanism which opposes tilting of thesupport.
 17. The muscle-building apparatus of claim 16, wherein theguide mechanism is coupled to each of the frame and the support.
 18. Themuscle-building apparatus of claim 17, wherein the guide mechanismcomprises blades which are linked by articulations and which cancollapse on one another during a downward movement of the support. 19.The muscle-building apparatus of claim 16, wherein the guide mechanismopposes left or right side tilting of the support.
 20. Themuscle-building apparatus of claim 12, wherein the support supports thecushion.
 21. The muscle-building apparatus of claim 12, wherein thefirst and second handles each comprise an upper handle member and atleast one side handle member, the upper handle members being orientedparallel to the first and second arms and the at least one side handlemembers being oriented perpendicular to the first and second arms. 22.The muscle-building apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first and secondhandles each comprise an upper handle member and side handle members,the upper handle members being oriented parallel to the first and secondarms and the side handle members being oriented perpendicular to thefirst and second arms.
 23. A muscle-building apparatus for press-ups,the apparatus comprising: a support plate; a frame comprising a base andfirst and second vertical posts; a first arm comprising a handle end anda journal end; a first handle arranged on the handle end of the firstarm; a second arm comprising a handle end and a journal end; a secondhandle arranged on the handle end of the second arm; the first arm beingmovably mounted to the first vertical post between the handle end andthe journal end; the second arm being movably mounted to the secondvertical post between the handle end and the journal end; a first legconnecting the journal end of the first arm to the support plate; thefirst leg being movably mounted to each of the first arm and the supportplate; a second leg connecting the journal end of the second arm to thesupport plate; the second leg being movably mounted to each of thesecond arm and the support plate; and a guide mechanism which opposestilting of the support plate, wherein the first and second arms arearranged on opposite sides of the support plate, and wherein movement ofthe first and second arms relative to the first and second verticalposts causes movement of the support plate relative to the frame.